Mechanical golf instructor and exerciser



June 21 1927. 1,633,527.

J.HANSEN v MECHANICAL cow ms'raucmon AND nxzncrsna FiledOct. 25, 1926 2Sheets-Sheet -1 IN VENTOR.

M A TTORNE Y.

J. HANSEN MECHANICAL GOLF INSTRUCTEDR AND EXERCISER File Oct. 25. 1922-Sheets-Sheet M (\2 7 III! Patented June 21, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HANSEN, OF BETTENDORF, IOWA, ASSIGNOB OF FOUR TWENTY-FIFTHS TO'WIL-LIAM H. MARTIN, TEN TWENTY-FIFTHS TO T. S. GUNN IN GHAM, AND ONE TWENTY-IEIFTH TO THOMAS MoQUABRIE, ALL OF DAVENPORT, IOWA.

MECHANICAL GOLII INSTRUCTOR AND EXEBCISEB.

Application filed October 25, 1926. Serial No. 148,977.

' in character to the machine for which I have filed an application forLetters Patent of the United States under date of October 14, 1926,Serial No. 141,438. In said former device attention was paid to the factthat in the customary stroke of a golf club,

as in making a drive, there is an axial movement of the stick, amountingto a half rotation in the lower part of the sweep of the club. Saiddevice was so constructed and arranged as to offer no interference tothis movement. In the present invention special mechanism is providedwhereby the axial movement referred to is compulsory, the club beingcontrolled and guided in such a manner that it will follow the desiredmove-- ment. By this means a novice at the game can become accustomed tothe established swing of the club in much less time than by the usualmeans for practice, and the more seasoned player can perfect his swing,and reduce the number of strokes which it is necessary to take in actualplay.

The present invention has the same advantages as to use for indoorpractice and exercise and the like which have been specified for thedevice set"out.in said prior application. I

In the drawin s;-

Fig. 1 shows t e invention in front elevation.

Figs. 2, 3, and 4 show fragmentary sections of the rail with thetraveller mechanism shown thereon in progressive positions. A v

Fig. 5 is a cross-section through the rail and traveller mechanism, onapproximately the broken line 5-5 of Fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the traveller with the top of the rail brokenaway.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal view of a fragmentary part of two rail sectionsat the joint thereof. p v

Fig. 8 is an end view of one of the rail sections, with the splice 11shown in section.

The reference number 1 indicates a base or platform, suitable for thesupport of a erson that is making use of. the machine, from one side ofwhich platform. is erected a frame 2, the side-pieces of which areunited by cross-pieces 3 and 4, and the lower part of the frame isfurther secured by braces 5.

Mounted on. the other side of the base from the frame 2 is a rail ofoval formation constructed of sectional arcuate pieces 6, 7,

8, 9, and 10. The upper part of said rail.

is attached to the frame 2, the rail and frame being inclined towardeach other and meeting at a point above the base. The'end sections 6 and10 overlap each other, and the general conformation of the rail is thesame as that of the movement of the head" of a golf club in makinastroke. At the joints of the several rai sections are splice plates 11on the inner face of the rail, said plates being of channel-plateformation, and held in place by bolts 12. Pins 13 fixed in the railsections enter openings in the splice and relieve the bolts from lateralstrain. The ends of the sections are also provided with pairs of pins14, which prevent such ends from getting out of alignment.

A traveller is provided for movement along the inner edge of the rail,consisting of a rectangular frame 15, in the corners of which are pins16 and 17 upon which are mounted rollers 18, provided with antifrictionbearings, and operable in channels 19 in opposite faces of therail,'near the inner edge thereof. The peripheries of said rollers arepreferably of an arcuate formation, as shown, and the channels are of acorresponding formation, whereby thesurface friction between the rollerand rail is reduced to a minimum.

Fixed to the upper end of the in 17 is a swivel coupling 20, one part 0ada ted for attachment to the head 21 of a gel stick- 22, such stickbeing of suitable length for use by aperson standing on the base 1, at acentral point of the rail. Projected downwardly from the frame 15 on theouter side of the rail is a bracket 23,in the lower end of which isjournalled a shaft 24,

which is to the inner end of which is fixed a bevel end of the arm 29 isptrovided with a roller. 31, operat ng in a trac 32, in the outer faceof the rail. Supported from the base 1 is a frame 33, serving as asupport for a olf ball shown at 34, in the pat of the bee 21 of the golfclub.

In the operation of the machine the player track 32 is near, the inneredge thereof, ad-

jacent to the channel 19, but at a point at the players right saidtrack. is carried graduall outwardly, until at a point at the leftoft eplayer sa1d track is at the outer edge of the rail, as shown on section9, and continues in that position to the outer end of the section 10. Inthe first-named position the arm 29 is held with the segment 28 turnedoutwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, which results I in the pinion 26 andcoupling 20 being turned to bring the club into position with the facethereof toward the front, as shown in Fig. 1.

This is the natural position of the club for the first part of thestroke. As the traveller approaches the lower part of the rail the rack28 is moved into a neutral position, as shown in Fig. 3, in whichposition the face of the head 21 of the club is toward the ball, as inFig. 5. As the traveller isbrought upwardly again at the left-of the plaer the track 32 carries the roller 31 gradua ly outwardly, turning the.rack 28- inwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, the consequent movement of thesegment 25 and pin 17 turning the stick 22 until the face of the head 21is tothe rear, in which position it continues for the balance of thestroke. As aresultthe golf club is not only compelled to follow theusual course .for a perfect stroke, but the stick is turnedautomatically into the prescribed positions for accompanying suchstroke. The beginner soon becomes accustomed to the movement, and willfollow it naturally, without the use of the machine. The more seasonedplayer will be able to improve 'and perfect the style of his swing, andreduce the number of strokes required in actual practice.

In carrying the club backwardly again to the starting point the rotarymovement of the stick will be reversed, until the face of the head isagain toward the front for the initial part of the stroke.

The guiding mechanism for the stick, as shown in the drawings, isgreatly out of proportions, such mechanism being of comparatively smalland light construction, so as to offer little resistance to the movement'of'the stick. By reason of the rail being formed in sections, as setforth, it can bereadily taken apart for transportation.

. What Lclaim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a railand supporttherefor, a tra vel ler movable along said rail, and adapted forconnection with the head end of a golf club, and mechanism associatedwith sa1d traveller for giving a gradual rotation to the stick of a golfclub connected therewith during the movement of said traveller along therail, conforming to the usual movement of the stick in making a stroke.

2. A device of the class described, comrising a suitably mounted rail ofeccentric ormation, conforming to the movement of a golf club head inmaking a customar stroke, a stick guiding mechanism slidab e along saidrail and provided with a swivel coupling for connection with the headend of a stick, and means for imparting a rotary movement to saidcoupling during a portion of the movement of said guiding mechamsmcorresponding with the rotary movement of the stick of a golf club inmaking a stroke.

3. A device of the class described, comprising a suitably mounted railconformin in shape to the movement of a golf (lu head in making acustomary stroke, a traveller movable along said rail, provided withmeans for connection with the end of a stickpermitting an axial rotationof said stick,

a cam track in said rail, and a follower for said cam track operativelyconnected with said stick connecting means so as to impart a desiredrotation to a stick connected therewith during a portion of the movementof the traveller along said rail.

1 4. In combination with a rail and traveller movable thereon, acoupling device carried by the traveller, capable of a pivotal rotation,a stick connected with said coupling device, and axially rotatablethereby, gearing operatively connected -with' sa1d coupling device, andmeans carried by said rail for actuating said gearing to give a desiredrotary movement to said stick in making a stroke.

5. In combination with a suitably mounted rail and cam track thereon, atraveller movable along said rail, a pivotal member in said travelleradapted for connection with the end of a golf club, gearing connectedwith said pivotal member capable of imparting rotation thereto, afollower for said cam track also carried by said traveller, and gearingoperatively connecting said follower with said first-named gearing, andactuating the same during a portion of the movement of said travelleralong said rail. 6. In a device of the class described, a suitablymounted rail conforming in shape to the usual movement of the head of agolfclub in making a drive, and rovided with a cam device on one of itsaces, a frame provided with friction reducing mechanism bearing onopposite sides of said rail, a connecting means carried b said frame forthe attachment of the end 0 a 01f stick thereto,

permitting axial rotation 0 such stick, gearing operatively connectedwith said stick connecting means, and means-connected with said gearingfor engagement with said cam 10 device, to glve a partial axial rotationto a stick connected with said frame during a partial movement of theframe along said rail.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN HANSEN.

